Employed population grew 5.0% in Lima Metropolitan area between November of 2025 and January 2026

The National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) informed that between November of 2025 and January of 2026, the employed population of Lima Metropolitan area increased by 5.0% (273,600), compared to the same period of the last year, totalizing 5 743 800 (five million seven hundred forty-three thousand eight hundred) persons.

According to the technical report Situation of the Labor Market in Lima Metropolitan area prepared based on the results of the Permanent Survey of National Employment (EPEN), the male employed population increased by 5.6% (165,400) and the female employed population increased by 4.3% (108,200), compared to the same quarter of the last year.

During the quarter under analysis, the employed population of 45 years old and older grew by 12.2% (258,600), followed by the group of 25 to 44 years old by 0.5% (12,600) and of the population under 25 years old by 0.4% (2,300), compared to the same period of the last year.

According to education level, during the quarter under analysis the employed population with university superior education level increased by 12.4% (194,600), followed by those that have secondary education level by 5.0% (119,600) and between those that have non-university superior education level by 0.3% (3,100). Nevertheless, in the population with primary or lower education level decreased by 12.0% (-43,700).

From November of 2025 to January of 2026, the employed population in the branch of Commerce grew 7.1% (85,100), in Services 4.9% (147,000), in Manufacturing 2.4% (17,400) and in Construction 1.1% (4,700), compared to the same quarter of the last year.

In addition, the technical report Situation of the Labor Market in Lima Metropolitan area showed, that the employed population in economic units of 11 to 50 employees increased by 20.1% (123,000), in companies of 51 and more employees increased by 5.1% (76,700) and in establishments of 1 to 10 employees by 2.2% (74,000), compared to the quarter November of 2024 to January of 2025.

During the mobile quarter November – December of 2025 and January of 2026, the population with suitable employment reached 3 775 100 (three million seven hundred seventy-five thousand one hundred) persons and registered a growth of 8.5% (295,200), compared to the quarter November-December of 2024 and January of 2025.

On the other hand, the employed population included the underemployed decreased by 1.1% (-21,500). From this total, time-related underemployed (visible underemployment) decreased by 17.0% (-68,900), meanwhile that the underemployed by incomes (invisible underemployment) grew by 3.0% (47,300).

During the quarter under analysis, the underemployment rate of Lima Metropolitan area placed in 6.3%, in absolute figures were 387,900 persons that sought a job actively. In the same period under study of the last year, the unemployment rate was placed in 6.2%.

During the quarter November – December of 2025 and January 2026, the average monthly income coming from work of the main activity in Lima Metropolitan area was of 2,288.10 Soles, an amount that compared to the same quarter of the last year, registered an increase of 7.6% (1,619 Soles).

According to sex, the average monthly income of men was of 2,531 Soles and that of women was of 1,993.5 Soles, which meant that women earn the equivalent of 78.8% of the income of men.

During the period under analysis, the average monthly income coming from work of the main activity increased by 8.3% (182 Soles) in the group of 45 years old and older, in 7.8% (176.8 Soles) in the group of 25 to 44 years old and between the employed population under 25 years old by 0.1% (1.2 Soles), compared to the same period of the last year.

By comparing the quarter under study with the same quarter of the last year, the average monthly income grew by 7.5% (140.6 Soles) among those that have non-university superior education level, among the employees with university superior education level by 6.7% (223.7 Soles), in those that have primary or lower education level by 5.8% (68.9 Soles) and in those that reach secondary education level by 3.4% (53.1 Soles).

The average monthly income coming from work among those employees that perform activities in Commerce area increased by 9.6% (164.8 Soles), Construction by 8.4% (195.6 Soles), Services by 7.9% (177.0 Soles) and Manufacturing by 5,0% (103.5 Soles).

The higher average monthly income was registered in Construction area, with 2,538.6 Soles, and lower income was registered in Commerce, with 1,876.3 Soles.